8 October 2025 · City report
Málaga beach satisfaction survey 2025: per-beach breakdown
The Ayuntamiento de Málaga's Área de Playas published its annual user satisfaction survey for the seven Q-Quality certified beaches. Here's the English summary, the per-beach scores, and the downloadable PDF.
Download the official PDF (Spanish, 46 pages)Headline findings
- Top three beaches: La Caleta, El Dedo, Pedregalejo.
- Lowest-rated beach: La Misericordia (3.03/5 overall).
- Best physical aspect citywide: Beach access (3.49 avg).
- Worst physical aspect citywide: Parking (2.28 avg) — citywide pressure point.
- Best service citywide: Lifeguard & first aid (3.52).
- Worst service citywide: PA system (2.76) and tourist info (3.16).
- Best equipment: Walkways (3.39), loungers (3.38), bins (3.37). Worst: Toilets (3.17 avg).
Per-beach breakdown
All scores are out of 5. Sorted by overall opinion score.
La Caleta
Top-rated beach overall in 2025. Strong on cleaning and rescue services; weak on parking and signage.
▲ Best: Beach access & sand quality
▼ Worst: Parking, showers/footwash, PA system
Full scores
El Dedo
Highest-rated water quality of all surveyed beaches. Strong leisure and lounger offering.
▲ Best: Water quality, loungers, leisure
▼ Worst: Showers/footwash, PA system
Full scores
Pedregalejo
Highest overall satisfaction average (3.47/5). Best-equipped beach but lowest water-quality rating in the survey.
▲ Best: Showers, walkways, rescue services
▼ Worst: Water quality, parking
Full scores
El Palo
Mid-table overall, but parking scored 1.94/5 — the worst single rating in the entire survey.
▲ Best: Beach access, walkways
▼ Worst: Parking (lowest score in survey: 1.94), showers
Full scores
La Malagueta
Iconic central beach: easy to reach but hampered by parking pressure and weaker water-quality perception.
▲ Best: Beach access (3.70 — joint highest)
▼ Worst: Parking, water quality, toilets
Full scores
San Andrés
Uniform but middling scores across equipment. Sand quality is the weakest of any surveyed beach.
▲ Best: Rescue services, security
▼ Worst: Sand quality (lowest: 2.61), water quality
Full scores
La Misericordia
Lowest overall satisfaction. The Área de Playas has flagged toilet upgrades as a 2026 priority for this beach.
▲ Best: Beach access
▼ Worst: Toilets (2.61), PA system, water quality
Full scores
Source: Informe Medición de la Satisfacción de los Usuarios de las Playas de Málaga 2025, Área de Playas, Ayuntamiento de Málaga (8 October 2025). Survey covers the seven beaches with Q de Calidad Turística certification. Summary and translation by AguaMálaga.